108LES ATOUTS ECONOMIQUES DU CAMEROUNThe demand has been constantly increasing by more than 6%UNIVERSITIESWith the break-up of the University of Yaounde whose number had become bloated, and a presi- dential decree on 19 January 1993, six State uni- versities were born: Buea, Douala, Dschang, Ngaoundere, Yaounde I Yaounde II. Subsequently, two other State universities were created in 2008 and 2010 in Maroua and Bamenda respectively. These universities have about a hundred classic faculties (arts, letters and human sciences, econo- mics and management, juridical and political sciences), a few advanced Schools (including four faculties of Medicine).There are also more than 150 private institutions of higher education in Cameroon (following liberali- zation of higher education, with outline Act of April 16, 2001). Moreover, the country has a university free zone and 2 virtual universities in Yaounde for the training of highly qualified engineers. There are altogether 306,508 students in Cameroon with 5,064 lecturers for both the public and private universities at the beginning of the 2014/2015 academic year.IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURESHigher education, in its strategic objective intends to professionalize teaching and promote research so as to significantly increase the overall productivity of Cameroonian economy. The actions to this end include: the increase in trai- ning opportunities; strengthened structuring of research; improvement of university infrastruc- tures; quality training control. Activities relating to the improvement of infrastructures targeted:• The construction of a teaching block of 1,500 seats and a construction in progress of a 1,000 seat library at the University of Yaounde II;• The rehabilitation of the laboratory block, com- pletion of a teaching block and the making of a computer network at the University of Buea;• The construction of classrooms for the faculty of science of the University of Bamenda;• The completion of the construction of the tea- ching block, the 1,400 theatre and an adminis- trative block with a 3,000-seat library at the University of Douala;• The construction of an administrative block ( classroom, 500-theatre of the faculty of letters, and offices) and the continuing construction of the lab of the faculty of science of the University of Ngaoundere;• The construction of classrooms, cellar and a 1,000-theatre at the University of Dschang;• The purchase of logging instructional materials at the Wood IUT, University of Yaounde I.STUDENTS, CONSTANTLY INCREASING NUMBERSDuring the 2014/2015 academic year the num- ber of students was estimated at 306,508 for 288,343 the previous year, showing an upward trend of 6.3%. In State universities, 228,735 stu- dents are coached by 5,064 lecturers. Supervisory ratio (students /lecturers) has moved from 44 to 45 averagely. The University of Yaounde II still has the highest ratios. 38,633 stu- dents graduated from the eight State universities in 2014 for 11,484 from the 173 private institu- tion The 2015/2016 academic year saw the opening of several faculties and advanced schools in State universities: faculties of letters and human sciences, juridical and political sciences, economics and management at the University of Bamenda; faculty of juridical and political sciences of the University of Maroua; School of chemical engineering and mineral industries in the University of Ngaoundere.An annex of the faculty of legal and political sciences of the University of Ngaoundere is open in Garoua. Similarly, two annexes of the faculty of legal and political sciences of the University of Yaounde II are open in Bertoua and Ebolowa. An approval to open a faculty of medicine has been granted a private higher education institute.RESEARCHThe basic and applied research is developed within research teams and laboratories. Over the years, some centres have developed nationwide like: